Toms River East HS shelter to close tomorrow

Nov. 7, 2012

TOMS RIVER — Lisa Tutela is an avid football fan, but the Seaside Heights resident hardly expected to meet members of the New York Giants Tuesday afternoon. It was a welcome visit for her and those who have been living at Toms River High School East, which has been serving as a shelter for those displaced from superstorm Sandy.

Tutela and her family ignored the mandatory evacuation off the barrier island Oct. 28 and remained until they were evacuated from the second floor of their home. “We saw the waves of water five feet high,” she said.

She and the other 185 people who temporarily called the school home will be relocated by noon today.

New York Giants punter Steve Weatherford organized the trip that brought eight players to the shelter Tuesday afternoon. The players signed autographs, spoke to fans and had their photos taken.

“It is great to get here and spend some time with them and help them get their minds off what they have been going through. It is obviously a very emotional time, people losing their houses and in some cases their loved ones,” Weatherford said.

Toms River Regional schools spokeswoman Tami Milar said that since the shelter opened nine days ago, it has housed about 200 people and 40 dogs, 30 cats and one 200-pound. pig.

“We have members of the FEMA Instant Action team here today helping to make arrangements on relocating those here to hotels, motels and apartments,” Milar said.